QuickCheck: Did two women fall victim to a phone scam in Miri?

IT'S the same old story – people falling victim to fraudsters claiming to be an official of some sort and claiming they can "absolve" them of any wrongdoing if they do exactly as told.

The modus operandi remains more or less the same, so despite the many accounts of other victims and countless warnings from authorities, is it true two women in Miri, Sarawak fell for a phone scam?

Verdict:

TRUE

In the first case, a 62-year-old accounts clerk made a police report stating that she had been scammed of almost half a million ringgit.

The woman said she had received a call from someone saying they were from the Health Ministry on April 17, claiming that she was involved in spreading fake news on Covid-19.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Comm Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said the scammers told the victim to open a bank account and transfer her money there for investigation purposes.

The victim did so and handed over her login details to the scammers.

The victim realised she had been scammed when a total of 31 transactions transferring out funds amounting to RM496,962 were made from April 18 to May 5.

In the second case, a 59-year-old woman received a call saying there were some suspicious transactions in her bank account on June 15.

The scammer claimed to be a Bank Negara official and asked for her bank log-in details and password, which she provided.

She then received notification that RM49,999 had been transferred from her account.

Comm Mohd Azman said that when the victim asked about it, she was told it was only temporary and the funds would be refunded later.

She later realised she had been cheated when 15 transactions totalling RM149,892 were transferred out from her account.

"Do not entertain any calls which are doubtful or check with the police, bank or agency for confirmation," said Comm Mohd Azman.

He advised the public not to panic when receiving calls telling them that they are involved in illegal activities.